Danger: Tilt Ahead

When you are driving in unfamiliar territory, it's always wise to read the signs. For example, you may see a warning sign that states 'DANGER, CURVES AHEAD.' Smart drivers always obey such warning signs.

In poker, many dangers can affect a player. I saw one happen to a very serious player at the Best Bet Casino in Jacksonville, FL. during a recent visit to that popular card room casino which features poker and three card poker.

He was a young bearded man with a Mideastern accent. One of the other players claimed he was from Syria.

Foreign-born players can be very tough. They grow up in war-torn country and are not afraid to take changes. They enjoy intimidating the opposition and this player was no exception to that rule.

At the beginning of my playing session, he was a frequent raiser. I would throw my borderline hands into the muck. But after a while, I grew tired of mucking my hands and decided it was time to stand up to him. I was ready to either be blooded or to make him bloody.

The game was $2-2 no-limit Texas Holdem. He raised the pot $20 and I called with k-5 off suit. The flop came k-8-7. He bet $25 and I called. A three came on fourth street. This time he wagered $50. I called. The river card was a deuce of diamonds.

'All in," he announced in a calculating voice. I called. He pitched his cards into the chips and the dealer pushed me the pot.

From that point on, he went on tilt. He had had about $300 in chips in front of him, lost all that, went to the ATM and returned with $200 which he also lost. He went back to the ATM, came back with $300 -- and lost that.

Going on tilt can be dangerous to a player's bankroll as well as to his health. It is a sad sight to see. But any astute poker player has to rise up to and take advantage of the moment and the situation.

He was playing and raising with poor cards. Once you go on tilt, it is very difficult to break the habit. You stay on tilt, hoping for miracle flops that rarely happen.

I don't know how much money this poor player lost before leaving the table. I stopped counting at $1,500. But finally he had had enough. He got to his feet, smiled and headed for the exit. He was really a nice guy, but he was playing like an amateur. We were all sad to see him go.

My advice to you is to never let yourself go on tilt. Stay in a good frame of mind. Play poker for fun. Play only premium hands or position, and play tough.

I turned to the player sitting to my left.

"That was sad to watch," I said.

The man laughed. "Yes, it was. But it was the guy's own fault. You cannot force the cards to be kind to you. And I see he sure increased the size of your stack."

I shrugged. "I had the cards and I wasn't about to let him run me over," I said quietly. He nodded. He understood and so did the other players at the table.

Author: Geno Lawrenzi Jr.

(Geno Lawrenzi Jr. is an international journalist, magazine author and ghostwriter and poker player who lives in Phoenx, AZ. He has published 2,000 articles in 50 magazines and 125 newspapers. If you want to share a gambling story or book idea with him, send an email to glawrenzi@gmail.com ).